Palladium Books® Weekly Update – Sept. 25, 2014

By Kevin Siembieda

It has been a productive and wild week. Read on for the lowdown.

Fire at Port Los Angeles

What’s next? Earthquake? Mudslide? Tsunami? Train hijacking? Pirates? Locusts? Yikes. This is why we hate to post a specific arrival or ship date. Every time we turn around there seems to be some event that impedes and delays the delivery of every darn container of Robotech® RPG Tactics™.

When we first heard the news of the fire, our hearts sank as we feared the worst. Thankfully, Container Two was nowhere near the fire, and was undamaged. However, it was trapped in port for a couple days while the authorities investigated the fire and the port was in turmoil. We should have missed the excitement entirely, but there was a delay in getting the container “on wheels,” as our broker put it. That prevented Container Two from shipping last week as had been anticipated. It was supposed to ship the afternoon of the fire, but the fire prevented that. To make a long story short, Container Two of Robotech® RPG Tactics™ should arrive at the Palladium warehouse sometime next week. Whew. I don’t know how much more excitement like this my heart can take.

UPDATE: Robotech® RPG Tactics™

Robotech® RPG Tactics™ Container Two should arrive by mid-week. As soon as we get it, we ship, ship, ship to our Kickstarter backers. So make sure we have your CURRENT and CORRECT address.

Container Three is on the ship at sea and should be arriving at Port Los Angeles early next week. We don’t yet know if the damage from the fire will cause congestion and delays at the port or not. We hope not. Container Number Four is also at sea, and Five left the factory yesterday and should leave China on Monday.

Everything is in motion and we are looking forward to shipping out Robotech® RPG Tactics™ to our Kickstarter backers at an accelerated pace next week. Everyone is champing at the bit to get this game and those who have received it are loving it.

UPDATE: RRPGT™ Kickstarter Address Changes – keep them coming!!!

We’ve gotten nearly 200 address changes in the last week! PLEASE MAKE SURE WE HAVE YOUR CORRECT AND CURRENT ADDRESS! Here’s how.

First, please log into BackerKit (http://robotech-rpg-tacticstm.backerkit.com) and make sure your address is correct. If it is, you’re all set; no further action is needed. If not, or if you have moved since the Kickstarter in 2013, and have NOT updated your address yet, please send us your correct address this weekend! Make sure you include your apartment number.

Second, YOU CANNOT change your own address in BackerKit, as we locked down the vast majority of accounts a few weeks ago. That means that if you have moved, you must send us your current address through a Kickstarter message or email us directly at kickstarter@palladiumbooks.com. We did this to ensure that nobody can change their address without us knowing, because we need to export that data and import it into our shipping system. If an address were changed after the export and we didn’t know about it, it wouldn’t get updated in our system and the rewards would be sent to the old address. Sorry for the inconvenience – it’s inconvenient for us, too – but it is necessary.

If you have moved and haven’t updated your address, and we send your rewards to the wrong address, your rewards might be lost and unreplaceable.

Palladium Books will not be liable for lost goods if you have moved and did not tell us in time. Even if the shipment comes back to us and we have to send it out again, we will need to pass on those new shipping costs to you if the fault was yours. Save yourself time and money and make sure your address is correct NOW.

So again, please check BackerKit ( http://robotech-rpg-tacticstm.backerkit.com ) and make sure your address is correct. Do it today. If anything doesn't look right, please send us your address in a Kickstarter message or via email at kickstarter@palladiumbooks.com.

We’ll be shipping out hundreds of packages next week, with thousands to follow over the next two, so it’s critically important that you do it this weekend, so we have time to do an updated data export and be ready to ship when Container #2 comes in. Address changes have been streaming in these last few weeks, and Jeff has been updating them all along, but that stream can’t continue after the middle of next week or into the weeks after, because by then some of those people will be too late and their packages will have shipped already. Get them in NOW, please.

UPDATE: Palladium Fantasy RPG®: Bizantium and the Northern Islands™

I have started editing and rewrites. A bunch of the artwork has been assigned. A few pieces of art have already been turned in. I’m meeting with Chuck Walton on Friday to finalize the tight, finished cover pencils and discuss color elements. Chuck has also agreed to do some of the interior illustrations. This will be a Fall 2014 release.

UPDATE: Dead Reign™ – Graveyard Earth™ Sourcebook

I am deep into the final edit and writing tweaks, and damn is it good. I expect it will go into layout and be sent to the printer next week, so it will be released in time for Halloween. It’s another fun zombie title by Matthew Clements.

UPDATE: The Rifter® #68 – Autumn Issue

I approved the color rough for the cover and John Zeleznik is painting away. We are assessing material for this issue and it should include some “official” Megaverse® in Flames™ source material that was trimmed from the main book. This is shaping up to be another great issue with source material that can be used in many game settings with minor modifications. Do not underestimate The Rifter® as a source of ideas, villains and adventure for all game worlds.

UPDATE: Robotech®: Expeditionary Force Marines Sourcebook One

– Formerly titled ‘UEEF Marines’

UPDATE: 2015 Open House – May 14-17, 2015

Artist Apollo Okamura has confirmed he will be at the 2015 Open House. More Palladium creators to come.

Closing Thoughts

We have several projects underway, so I’m keeping this Update rather short. Stay positive. Stay excited. And keep those imaginations burning bright.

– Kevin Siembieda, Publisher, Writer and Game Designer

NEW! Rifts® Northern Gun™ Two – signed & numbered print

The first batch of prints went to a select number of the Megaverse Insiders, but starting with Number 102, you too can get a signed and numbered Northern Gun™ Two Print. It is the striking John Zeleznik wrap-around cover without any text or logo to obscure the artwork. Limited to a total of 290 copies. Suitable for framing.

Limited to 290 signed and numbered prints; 101 of which have already gone to Megaverse Insider crowdfunders. The remaining 189 prints are available while supplies last.

The artwork is by the dynamic John Zeleznik.

Each is signed by Charles Walton (artist), Matthew Clements (author) and Kevin Siembieda (author and publisher) in silver.

NG-1 Print by Chuck Walton – Cat. No. PR810 – is also still available – $10.00

NEW! Future Visions™

– The Artistry of Charles Walton II – Available now

We call it Future Visions because it very much gives you a glimpse into the future of what is coming from Palladium Books. It is jam-packed with black and white artwork and concept art for several of the upcoming Splicers® sourcebooks and a couple other Palladium projects. Things we are excited about and want you to be, too. People can’t seem to get enough of Chuck Walton artwork, so here is an entire 96 page book filled with it. Some of the art is finished pieces, many others are concept art that may be tweaked and altered, or not used at all. Much of it is material you would never ordinarily see. If you like this book and it sells well, it can be the first of several Charles Walton II art books (and other artists?). We hope you enjoy it. It was a fun, quick and easy project to throw together. It didn't impact our schedule more than a few days.

NEW! Rifts® World Book 35: Megaverse® in Flames™ – Available now

The Minion War is here and the demons seek to conquer Rifts Earth. They are bringing demonic armies by the tens of thousands across the dimensional divide, unleashing plagues, seeking out magic artifacts, recruiting monsters and mortal allies, and testing their strength against Earth’s military powers. Worse, they are building Hell Pits so that they can unleash Hell on Earth! Not to be outdone, the Minions of Dyval are doing all the same things. Clashes between demons and Deevils are increasing every day and turn into titanic free-for-alls when Earth forces join the battle. As demonic supernatural forces ramp up, enslave people and wreak havoc across the globe, the question becomes: Is this the beginning of a new Dark Age?

NEW! Megaverse® in Flames™ “Gold Edition” – Available now

This book has so much cool stuff in it, we thought it deserved the Gold Hardcover treatment. Imprinted gold foil on black leatherette, signed by the Palladium staff, Matthew Clements and Chuck Walton. (You can get Carl Gleba’s signature at the Palladium Open House next May.)

Limited to 300 signed and numbered copies.

Signed and numbered on the credits page by Kevin Siembieda and the Palladium staff. We’ll get Matthew Clements and Chuck Walton to sign as well.

Black leatherette cover with gold foil imprinting.

Interior pages are exactly the same as the softcover edition.

Written by Carl Gleba. Additional text by Kevin Siembieda.

Gold Edition cover art by Nick Bradshaw.

192 pages – $50 while supplies last – Cat. No. 876HC – only available directly from Palladium Books. Sorry, this product is not available in stores.

Available now.

NEW! The Rifter® #67 – Available now

Every issue of The Rifter® is an idea factory for players and Game Masters to generate new ideas and find new avenues of adventure. It provides useful, ready to go source material you can just drop into your ongoing games. A doorway to new possibilities and numerous Palladium role-playing worlds. And the many new characters, O.C.C.s, powers, magic, weapons, villains, monsters, adventures and ideas for one setting can be easily adapted to any Palladium setting. Every issue has material for Rifts® and at least 2-3 other Palladium game lines. And don’t forget, most of the material can be easily adapted for use in ANY Palladium game setting.

The Rifter® Number 67 includes:

Heroes Unlimited™ – Power Behind the Throne – by Alex Tullock. Get a glimpse at some of the true powers pulling the strings of governments and their superhumans. Spice up your Heroes Unlimited™ campaign with some political, spy and espionage elements along with supermen. Plenty of ideas for adventures, and includes NPCs and Hook, Line & Sinker adventure ideas.

Palladium Fantasy RPG® “Paper Miniatures” is a new digital product line created by artist and writer “Madman” Mike Leonard. They are designed as full color paper game pieces that you print on a card stock, cut out and slide into a paper stand (all part of the package you purchase). A FREE Sample and the first two sets of Palladium Fantasy RPG® Paper Miniatures are available NOW on DriveThruRPG.

In a week or two a Great Horned Dragon will be added, and two more Volumes are coming in the next month or two. And don’t forget, first edition rules of the Palladium Fantasy RPG® and several sourcebooks (and 90+ other titles including the Rifts® and Splicers® RPGs) are also available as PDFs. Have fun.

NEW! Dead Reign™ Sourcebook 5: Graveyard Earth™ – Ships Fall

When the dead rise and communications and power grids collapse, nothing matters except your own survival. But what about the rest of the world? What’s happening in other places? Has any government survived? Is anyplace safe? Dead Reign™ Graveyard Earth™ tries to answer those questions and others. And in doing so, provides gamers and G.M.s with more fuel for adventure.

Zombie World Tour – How the Wave and the Zombie Apocalypse have played out across the globe.

A Thousand Miles of Dead – Getting home from abroad in a world of zombies.

American military forces overseas and their journey home.

Alternative campaign settings and Random Campaign Setting tables.

Random Encounters by Region and Random Survivor Leaders.

Level of Zombie Threat table. Zombies and exposure to the elements.

Walled cities and other Alternative Safe Havens.

Car problems, aircraft landing conditions and encounters on the road and by sea.

Journey to the Island Kingdom of Bizantium, situated at the far northern peak of the Palladium World. Its vast fleets of merchant vessels and warships travel the high seas and bring untold wealth back to the kingdom, as well as exotic goods, people, customs, weapons and foreign magic. With rich, ambitious Merchant-Princes all around him, Bizantium’s colonies on the Shadow Coast in a state of near-revolt, and powers from the Western Empire to the Eastern Territory trying to exert their influence on the throne, the oblivious King Raedaen IV is in troubled waters – and the sharks are starting to gather.

Full timeline of the history of Bizantium, from its mythical founding to the kings, queens and high priests of the Northern Islands.

NEW! Robotech®: Expeditionary Force Marines Sourcebook One

– Formerly titled ‘UEEF Marines’

Robotech®: Expeditionary Force Marines sourcebook is set in space with the UEEF (United Earth Expeditionary Force) led by Admiral Rick Hunter. This valiant force of mecha clad heroes travel across the galaxy liberating planets from the bondage of the Invid Regent, the Robotech Masters and other tyrants and monsters.

Coming BACK IN PRINT – Rise of Magic™

A Rifts® Chaos Earth® Sourcebook – Fall

Rescheduled for a Fall release.

The return of magic has empowered humans with strange and wondrous powers, unlike anything quite yet seen (and different from most conventional types of magic). This only complicates things for Earth’s defenders as the line of distinction between “good guys” and “bad guys” begins to blur.

Robotech® RPG Tactics™ – Coming to Stores Fall, 2014

This is the game Robotech® fans have wanted for decades.

Robotech® RPG Tactics™ is a fast-paced, tabletop combat game that captures the action and adventure of the Robotech® anime. Two or more players can engage in small squad skirmishes or scale up to massive battles. Relive the clashes of the First Robotech War, engage in stand-alone tactical games, or use the dynamic game pieces to enhance your Robotech® RPG experience. Or simply collect your favorite mecha from an expanding range of top-notch game pieces.

Mecha vs Mecha. Take command of the fighting forces of the United Earth Defense Force (UEDF) valiantly defending Earth from alien annihilation. Or lead the massive clone armies of the Zentraedi Armada to recover an alien artifact of immense power and enslave humankind.

Robotech® RPG Tactics™ Box Set – Cat. No. 55100

Brought to you by Palladium Books®, created with Ninja Division (the creative minds behind Soda Pop Miniatures and Cipher Studios).

112 page, full color, softcover rule book. Includes an index and a comprehensive color guide for all Macross mecha in the series.

24 Battle Dice, 12 UEDF and 12 Zentraedi.

53 color game cards (unit cards, etc.).

4x VF-1A Valkyries (in Fighter, Guardian, and Battloid modes).

1x VF-1J "Officer" in all three modes.

4x Destroids: 2 Tomahawks and 2 Defenders.

12x Regult Zentraedi Battlepods.

1x Glaug Officer's Battlepod.

1x Quel-Regult Recon Battlepod.

1x Quel-Gulnau Recovery Pod.

1/285th scale, high quality, multi-pose plastic game pieces (40mm to 70mm tall). World-class sculpts from sculptors around the world.

Game rules use D6.

Turn-based system of play.

Scalable from small squad skirmishes to mass battles. Can accommodate two to several players.

Zentraedi Artillery Battlepods

Give your Zentraedi legion greater firepower with these artillery and support Battlepods; four figures total.

4 Zentraedi Support Battlepods, each of which can be made into any of the following:Gluuhaug-Regult – Light Artillery BattlepodSerauhaug-Regult – Heavy Artillery BattlepodTelnesta-Regult – Experimental Particle Beam BattlepodFour figures total.

Plastic game pieces require assembly and painting.

Not a toy. Small parts, choking hazard. Not recommended for children under the age of 13. Adult supervision advised.

Robotech® Macross® Saga Sourcebook – New 8½ x 11 size – Available now

All the famous mecha and action of Robotech® starts here with the Macross® Saga when an alien armada enters Earth orbit. They have come to reclaim a lost spacecraft that crash-landed on Earth 10 years earlier. A space fortress that Earth’s protectors have rebuilt into their own flagship against alien invasion. The resulting conflict gives birth to heroes and becomes the stuff of legend, but the Earth will never be the same. Robotech® The Macross® Saga Sourcebook is now available as an 8½ x 11 inch sourcebook.

Note: This is the setting for Robotech® RPG Tactics™, so if you’re looking for more information about the mecha, Earth’s defenders, the Zentraedi invaders, and Macross Saga setting, this is the book for you. Epic adventure awaits.

A Robotech® Role-Playing Game Sourcebook:

Transformable Veritech Fighters known as Valkyries take to the sky to defend the Earth.

PDF downloads from DriveThruRPG.com

This is a great resource for getting out of print Palladium titles and other select books. We’ve made 90 titles available as PDF digital downloads from DriveThruRPG.com. This is a great way to try Palladium products and get access to out of print RPG source material. Some notable titles include:

2015 Palladium Open House (POH) – May 15-17, 2015

The 2015 Open House is going to be awesome. Take a look at the Palladium Creators who have already confirmed they will be attending.

Ramon Perez – artist – Ramon has been working in the comic book industry at Marvel Comics, DC, Boom and other publishers. He is currently illustrating Marvel Comics’ Spider-Man: Learning to Crawl. Ramon is still “tentative,” but he is checking his schedule now and hopes to be able to make it in 2015. I will update you when he confirms. Everyone else in this list has confirmed.

MANY more writers, artists and creators are expected to join this list.

And we may have a surprise guest or two.

I think we may max out our attendance numbers for 2015, so make sure you order your tickets sooner than later to make sure you are not turned away. Palladium can only accommodate around 300 gamers total (plus staff and Palladium creators). Once we reach that number, the POH will be sold out. Order in the coming months or risk not being able to attend. If you wait till March or April, 2015 it may be too late!

A more complete description of the 2015 POH is in the online store and you can start purchasing your admission for the weekend or individual days as well as VIP Thursday (May 14, 2015). This write-up is just the highlights, please read the full description in the store. Remember, Price of admission covers ALL EVENTS, except VIP Thursday. There are no extra fees for gaming events, panel talks or autographs.

$45 per person for the Three Day Weekend (Friday, Saturday & Sunday; May 15, 16 & 17) when ordered in advance per each individual. ($60 at the door and after April 12, 2015, if space is available.)

$87 additional for VIP Night – Thursday – May 14, 2014. The VIP Night always sells out within weeks, so make your reservation as soon as possible. First-come, first-served. VIP Night is a special, one-evening event limited to around 120 gamers – 70 are available right now. VIP Thursday, May 14, 2014: 3:00 P.M. till 12:00 P.M. NOTE: As has become tradition, we hold a number of VIP slots to be offered at a later date – typically February – so that gamers who decide to attend at a later date have a chance at getting into the coveted VIP Night too. You get the delicious meal catered by Palladium’s very own Kathy Simmons (people rave about her meals), plus you get an extra afternoon and evening of gaming (opens late afternoon), a more intimate chance to talk with Palladium staff, artists and writers, and first crack at rare collectibles, prints and original art.

Other POH Highlights:

40+ Palladium creators. See the store description for details. In the past, the POH usually has 35-50 creators (writers, artists, editors, staff, Rifter contributors, etc.) attending. More than at any other convention or gathering anywhere, ever! And most are available to you almost the ENTIRE event to chat with you and sign autographs. Some will even run gaming events!

3 days of Palladium gaming.

100+ gaming events. Game Masters/Megaversal Ambassadors NEEDED!

Many games run by the people who make them, including Kevin Siembieda, Julius Rosenstein, Carmen Bellaire, Brandon Aten, Greg Diaczyk, Taylor White and many others!

8-10 panel talks each day, Friday, Saturday & Sunday. Subjects run from player and G.M. tips, to writing and game design, to meeting various artists and more.

Auction of art and collectibles.

A family reunion atmosphere. Meet gamers from around the world

And it all happens at the Palladium warehouse and offices, where the magic happens! Okay, not quite “all.” When the gaming stops around 1:00 AM every night, the hotel has a large conference room where you maniacs can continue to game till you drop. There is room for at least 8 games in the room.

2015 Open House Hotel – reserve your room now

You should reserve your hotel room today. Your card will not be charged until next May. Other hotels are booked due to a sporting event the same weekend, so other area hotels will be filled. RESERVE YOUR ROOM TODAY or the next available hotel may be 20+ miles away.

Comfort Inn

40455 Ann Arbor RoadPlymouth, MI 48170Phone: 734-455-8100

Group Code: Palladium Books – you MUST request the Group Code “Palladium Books” at the time of booking to ensure the correct rate will be quoted and billed to you.

Dates of the 2015 Palladium Open House (POH): May 15-17 (May 14 is VIP Thursday), 2015.

$109.00 (plus tax) per night at the Comfort Inn, a.k.a. “Plymouth Clock Tower Hotel.” That’s $109 (plus tax) for a room with two queen beds or one king with a sofa that has a pull-out sleeper. ALL rooms have a micro-fridge and FREE high-speed wired/wireless Internet. The hotel also offers a FREE hot breakfast from 6 A.M. to 10 A.M. near the lobby, heated indoor swimming pool, a fitness center (24 hours), and a coin operated laundry. The large conference room is ours to use for around the clock open gaming. Reserve using Group Code: Palladium Books. And do it as soon as possible. The hotel has been remodeled, resulting in a smaller number of rooms. If you know you are coming to the 2015 Palladium Open House, we recommend you reserve your room today. Important Note: You MUST give them the Group Code: Palladium Books to get this rate. Call 734-455-8100 to make your reservation. The hotel does NOT charge your credit card until a few days before the event and you can cancel up to May 10, 2015. So there is no reason to wait.

2015 POH Game Masters needed

Palladium Megaversal Ambassadors, Palladium creators, and any experienced Game Master planning to come to the 2015 Palladium Open House – please let us know if you are planning to run one or more gaming events. Those who run three or more get special discounts, free T-shirt and more. We need plenty of games to satisfy 300 gamers. Your help is appreciated. Contact us by telephone (734-721-2903) or by email at palladium-gm@palladiumbooks.com.